Adjustable jaw wrench



March 7, 1933. H. A. MEAD ADJUSTABLE JAW WRENCH Filed April 9, 1931 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 7, 1933 STATES arts HOMER A. MEAD, or run-Locmcanrronnra, Assienon '10 ivmsrnnnncn: CORPORATION, OF rrUnLocK, CALIFORNIA, A conromirion ADJUSTABLE Application filed April 9,

effective range of action ismaterially increased by adjustably mounting the movable jaw so that the distance between the axis of turning of said j aw relative to its outer end may be altered. A spring actuated member is applied to the movable jaw to turn the same to a relatively closed position and functions regardless of the adjusted setting of the aw.

The main objects of the present invention are to arrange such parts so that any pipe or the like within the range of the tool may be engaged at diametrally opposed points; so that the movable jaw while easily adjusted from one position to another cannot actually be removed from the -main shank of the tool; so that the pressure of the spring is substantially constant with any position of the movablejaw; and so that a relatively compact arrangement of all the parts is provided. 1 I

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and r yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose. for which it is designed."

These objects I such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section of my improved wrench showing the movable jaw mounted in one position on its pivot and relatively closed.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the jaw in the same setting relative to its pivot but in the wrench of the present invention, the

accomplish by means of JAW WRENCH 1931. Serial No. 528,713.

showing the movable jaw closed and set in its other position relative to the pivot. I

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the numeral 1 denotes the main shank of the tool, which at one end is straight andforms he handle 2. Toward its other end the sides of the shank bend laterally from the longitudinalplane of the shank for a short distance, and then again bend toward said plane of the shank. I

This forms an elbow-like offset 3, the outer end of which forms the fixed jaw A, which is disposed inslightly offset relation to the longitudinal plane of the shank on the same side as the offset 3. The end and face of the fixed jaw opposite to the offset is provided with a row of sharp teeth 4, arranged in a circleof approximately ninety degrees extent, whose center is locatedadjacent the outer side of the upper portion of the offset, so that the row of teethlie in the relatively concave side of the offset. I

A slot 5 is out through the shank from under the fixed jaw to the straight portion Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe wrench of the shank below the ofiset, and through said slot theshank 6 of the movable jaw 7 slidably projects. This jaw overhangs or is disposed opposite to the fixed jaw teeth, and is provided with a row of teeth 8, which are disposed in a plane parallel to a line tangent to the teeth 4 at all times. Fixed in the offset portion 3 of the shank and substantially central of its width and length is a pin 9, which of course is also offset from the center of the circle of the teeth 4. This pin projectspacross the slot 5 and turnably engages either at a time of a pair or moreof round bottomed notches 10 cut in the upper edge of the shank 6 in longitudinally spaced relation. Bymeans of this arrangement the movable jaw and its teeth 8 may be initially disposed different distances from the fixed jaw teeth. Turning of the movable jaw outwardly of the fixed jaw about saidpin as an axis will therefore give different but proportionate extents of space between the jaws.

The teeth 4 and 8 are arranged relative to a shoulder 11 formed with the movable jaw at the back end of the row of teeth 8 so that a pipe or the like as at 12 projected between the jaws with any setting of the movable jaw and abutting against said shoulder will be engaged at diametrally opposed points by the sets of teeth, as shown in Fig. 2.

This arrangement provides for the most efficient gripping of the pipe or other part at any time without the operator having to carefully manipulate the tool to thus position it relative to such part.

To yieldably hold the pin engaged with either notch, and also acting to turn the movable jaw to a closed osition, as well as preventing the jaw shank from being actually removed from association with the slot and fixed shank 1, I provide the following arrangement Disposed in the slot 5 below the shank 6 is a dog 13, extending lengthwise of the shank and flat along its upper side so as to slidably engage the adjacent edge of said shank, which is straight from end to end. This dog is pivoted at its end furthest from the jaw 7 on a pin 14, which of course projects across the slot 5 and is parallel to the pin 9. The straight line distance between the upper surface of the dog at the'pin 14 and the underside of the pin 9 is less than the full depth of'the shank 6 beyond the notches 10, but is greater than the depth of said shank between the slots, where its normal depth is reduced as shown. This arrangement enables said shank, when turned so that it lies substantially at a right angle to the straight line between the pins, to be shifted into position from one notch to the other,

- but prevents said shank from being moved in either direction beyond the notches, as will be evident.

The underside of the dog adjacent the pin is notched as at 15, to receive the adjacent end of the U-shaped compression spring 16, which is disposed in the slot 5. The opposite end of this spring is formed with a short reversed angular bend 17, which seats on a peak 18, formed adjacent the outer end of the bottom surface of the slot 5.

The opening between the ends of the spring faces the outside of the shank, and said bottom surface of the slot beyond the peak is concavely curved to substantially correspond to the adjacent convex curvature of the spring and forms a seat for the same when said sprin is compressed.

The point of engagement of the opposite end of the spring with the dog is such that said spring exerts a constant tendency to turn the, dog upwardly on its pin, and thus tends to hold the shank 6 in firm engagement with the pin 9, and also tending to 1 turn the movable shank and its jaw to a closed position. Said spring and the notch are also shaped so that regardless of the extent of turning of the dog, only said end of the spring ever engages the dog and never leaves the notch. As a result the pressure of the spring on the dog is substantially even throughout the movement of the dog and spring. The dog is arranged so that at both limits of movement of the shank 6, the dog bears flatly against the shank, while at intermediate positions of the shank the dog assumes an acute angle relative to the same and bears thereagainst only at its free end. The underside of the shank '6 being flat and the dog slidably engaging the same, no interference with the sliding movement of the shank from one pin engaging position to the other is had.

The particular form of the shank, which is shown and described, enables the two pins 9 and 14 to be maintained in such relative alignment as to prevent removal of the shank 6 as above described, while maintaining the spring and the major portion of the dog disposed between and protected by the sides of the slot 5. At the same time the shank 6 may be shorter and still project beyond the outer side of the shank 1 when the pin is engaged with the outermost notch] than would be the case if the shank were straight throughout its extent. Also, the width of the shank 1 may be kept within reasonable limits so as not to unduly increase the weight and bulkiness of the tool as a whole.

From the foregoing description it will'be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. I

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as .do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described 'my what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A wrench comprising a straight shank terminating in an elbow offset to one side of the longitudinal center line of the shank, the outer end of the elbow forming the fixed jaw of the wrench, the elbow and the adja cent portion of the shank having a slot therethrough, a pin in the bend of the elbow extending across the slot, a movable jaw to cooperate with the fixed w and having a shank mounted for movement through the slot below the pin, the upper edge of said last named shank having spaced notches to engage the pin, and yieldable means engaging said last named shank to exert turning pressure on the same to inove the jaw thereof to a closed position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

A. MEAD.

invention 

